Victoria weighing options on proposal for house for recovering addicts
Home for recovering addicts 'needed desperately,' Conception Bay meeting told
The small Newfoundland community of Victoria has a big decision to make about a residence that provides services for people recovering from drug addiction.
Town council held a second public information session Monday night on a transitional house proposed for the Conception Bay North community, giving people a chance to voice their concerns and support.
"As a council, we need to make the right decision," Mayor Barry Dooley told the crowd at the start of the meeting.
"When some topics come along we feel that we should be more informed by you, the public, the residents who put us here."
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The team that runs the U-Turn Drop-In Centre has been given an old retirement home that it hopes it can turn into a home for people coming out of rehab.
A proposal has been submitted to the town of Victora, but council asked for the public's input.
Desperately needed
About 80 people turned up for the information session Monday night at the local community centre.
Edna Clarke said she has personally been affected by addiction, adding that her grandson sought — and got help — from the U-Turn centre.
"I hope and pray with all my heart that this will do down here in Victoria," she told the audience.
"It's needed desperately."
Clarke's sentiments were echoed by Victoria resident Harold Priddle, a former Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer.
"It's a beautiful community, but we do have our problems," he said.
"When you go up by the ball field and see the syringes on the ground, the problem is not outside of the community. It's right here where we live."
Home 'a very touchy subject'
Overwhelmingly, those that came forward offered up support for the centre, but Dooley acknowledged that not everyone is on board.
"I know this is a very touchy subject for some people, and a very personal subject for a lot of people," he said.
Council will now look at the feedback before figuring out its next move — which could possibly be a council vote or one where the residents of Victoria decide the fate of the transitional house.
See and hear more of the comments made Monday night in the video below:
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